Title
Searchers Selection Of Search Keys .3. Searching Styles
Abstract
Individual searching style has a primary effect on searching behavior. The case study method provided data about elements of searching styles through: (1) observation of 47 professional searchers performing their job-related searches; and (2) analysis of verbal and search protocols. Statistical associations among a number of variables reveal three dimensions of searching behavior: level of interaction, preference for operational or conceptual moves, and preference for textwords or descriptors. The interactive searcher actively modifies search strategies and uses a relatively large number of search keys (or search terms). The operationalist searcher prefers to employ operational moves and is less concerned with recall than his conceptualist counterpart. The free-text searcher prefers to use textwords, has developed a habit of not consulting a thesaurus, and is more likely to regularly receive practical questions. Findings also indicate that searchers encountered difficulties in achieving satisfactory recall, regardless of their searching style. Future research should focus on mechanisms to improve recall and on factors that affect the development of searching styles.
Year
DOI
Venue
1991
10.1002/(SICI)1097-4571(199108)42:7<515::AID-ASI6>3.0.CO;2-F
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR INFORMATION SCIENCE
Keywords
Field
DocType
three dimensions
World Wide Web,Information retrieval,Computer science,Case method,Habit,Recall
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
42
7
0002-8231
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
40
3.82
6
Authors
1
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Raya Fidel1770141.31